Refinish or leave alone? Pre war woodsman

[Bofire]

I would leave it
Carl

[T-Dozzer]

Thanks for all the advice, I decided to tuck it bak in the ol safe. Heck, I might even get out it out a shot it sometime. It's a real nice shooter and pretty accurate.
I'm wondering if you of you guys have of of these pre-wars & how you like it.
A full break down isn't simple, parts hard to find. Anyone have experience or good place to find parts?

[Heredoggydoggy]

The only thing I'd touch it with would be oil 

Second that.  Do not refinish it!  You'll destroy its years of "character".   

[ghosthunter]

I would leave it as is

 

Most gun dealers prefer un altered old guns.

[T-Dozzer]

I can't be the only one on here with a pre-war.
How do you like them? Mine is zero'd out to 70yds.
I don't break it down cuz it's such a b##ch to get back together,

It's worse than the rugger mk II TO GET BACK TOGETHER

[724wd]

haven't really shot it, so i don't know if it's on or not, but i suspect it is...

with flash and without.  most of the bluing is still good on the frame, but the barrel is getting pretty thin

[T-Dozzer]

Nice looking gun. Interesting yours doesn't have the same markings. Do you know production year?
Pretty cool little guns!

[724wd]

Do you know production year?

1920 by the numbers.  209XX 

http://www.colt22.com/dates.html

Goes great with my 1928 Model 12 16 gauge!   

[724wd]

What year is yours?  http://www.colt22.com shows "The Woodsman" on the frame showing up starting at serial number 54000, or 1927-1928.  neat little pistols, for sure.  One thing i didnt know is the pre-1933 pistols shouldn't be used with high velocity .22, but regular low velocity stuff.  learn somethin' new every day!   

[T-Dozzer]

Yup. Standard velocity only in mine. I was told I could swap springs to use high velocity, but I don't see the need.

[Heredoggydoggy]

Yup. Standard velocity only in mine. I was told I could swap springs to use high velocity, but I don't see the need.

There's a way to tell what type of ammo the gun was made to shoot, by the checkering on the little square on the backstrap 0f the gun.  I'm no authority on them, so I don't know which is which, but a gun that old, I'd only shoot the standard velocity stuff anyway.